"""AppleScript is a language used to accomplish what traditional scripting languages are unable to do: exchange information between applications on a higher level than is possible through plain-text pipes on the command line;"""

Not so. There are plenty of traditional scripting languages with varying levels of Apple event support. Offhand, here's the ones I can think of:

- Perl has long had well developed application scripting support in the shape of Mac::Glue (download) (perl.com article).

- Python also has very good application scripting support that easily gives AppleScript a run for its money; see appscript (note: self-link).